On Finding My Fit, Part 1

Can we talk about fit today?


My husband and I have long gone back and forth about the clothes that I wear. Not in a bad way, mind you- he's just always encouraging me to try something new. In fact, my sister tackled my closet not too long ago at his insistence. She made me get rid of several things and make a list of what I need- mostly because much of what I have is old (and worn) enough to make all the clothing lovers out there cry.


Fact: The last time I bought jeans was in 2008. And I only bought those because the last time I had bought jeans before that was in 2003.


I know. Some of you are still trying to get up off the ground after that one. At least that's what happened to my sister.


It's not that I hate clothes, I just have a terrible relationship with them. Part of it has to do with my upbringing, some with body image (especially after having this third baby), and the greatest factor of all: not being able to find exactly what I want for a reasonable price. I'm totally willing to put money into my wardrobe, but not for things that aren't exactly what I want... which leads to my sister excavating my closet and saying "you've had this since college- and you still wear it???"


I think this is part of why I've always been so attracted to the idea of making my own clothes. I thought maybe if I made clothing items myself they will actually fit me correctly. My naivete in this area became clear after making a few items that turned out wearable but nowhere close to an actual and proper fit. After all, in both sewing and knitting you are still following a pattern that someone who has never met you designed. While the design can be beautiful and flattering, it still isn't personalized to your exact measurements in every single aspect. This leads to the gorgeous sweater that fits perfectly in the bust, but then is a bit baggy through the body, arm scythe issues, or that slightly tight across the shoulders thing that happens on a lot of patterns for me.


I've been taught to find my size in a knitting pattern by going with the bust measurement. I figured out about a year ago (through great trial and error) that if a sweater is actually going to fit me well I almost always have to knit 1 size down from my bust measurement to get an accurate fit at the shoulder and arm scythe, but then knit a longer body and longer sleeves. My sad truth is that while I'm decent at crafty math, I'm just not mathy enough for some parts of knitting and would like to rectify that AND finally have some clothes that fit me well. Handmade is an incredible bonus.


Two books are serving as my guide right now: Knitting Pattern Essentials by Sally Melville and Cal Patch's Design-It-Yourself Clothes (which I've had on my shelf for an unreasonably long time. I've set aside time this summer to specifically work through these books so that I can learn how to better fit my body as well as how to adjust the knitting patterns I adore to fit me better.

This Week

Phew! I think we're finally back in shape. Yesterday was the first true "completely back to normal" day where I wasn't running around trying to finish up trip-related cleaning/picking up and Ellie was completely back to her normal sleeping/eating schedule. We even got some reading time in as a little bonus!

Right before we left I cut off all of my hair. It was a little past my shoulders before...

And way above my shoulders after...

Still getting used to it, but so quick to get ready in the mornings!

On the Needles...

Finishing the toe of the second purple sock, getting a little more leg into the first grey/coral sock, and contemplating a little hat to go along with my new little niece's cardigan.

I read...

I finished The Son by Lois Lowry and I am now a few chapters into Game of Thrones.

Just Keep Spinning…

I'm going to start spinning about 15 minutes at a time again this weekend in preparation for Tour de Fleece. My goal for the Tour is just to spin every day that they ride, whether for 10 minutes or longer, and I have no yardage goal at all. Just to spin, spin, and spin some more.

Learning all the time…

I'm really digging the homework grid for the this relaxed month in our homeschool. The boys work on 1 or 2 squares off of their grid every day- it gives them something productive to do and gives me a little time to focus on my own project during that precious afternoon nap time of Ellie's.

In the Kitchen...

I made steamed artichokes the other day for the boys to try and they were not amused. At least they tried it, though. Right?

Watching (Spoiler Free, of course...)

I'm so glad that Masterchef is back! I only watch reality television if Gordon Ramsay is involved, and this is my favorite. Brian and I are also finishing up season 6 of The Big Bang Theory and are going to be so very sad when it's done! We're just not used to waiting for shows to actually air on television.

Listening...

I caught up on the Knitmores this week while working around the house.

Garden...

FINALLY a patch of like 3 days where there are no torrential downpours! I'm spending my day today putting things into our little garden patch and then shall spend the rest of the month hoping that I don't lose it all in the rain that is supposed to carry on like crazy for who knows how long.

In Stitches...

I have a little sewing class tucked in between baseball games this Saturday. I'm needing a little crafty break lately and this will be just the thing!

I didn't get to...

There is work to be caught up, knitting and sewing and a bunch of books just begging to be read, but they will have to wait just a bit more until I have a chance to be in the kitchen. I bought yummy things at the grocery the other day and I would like to eat them. And enjoy them. 

This weekend...

4 (!!!) baseball games, a sewing class, and garden time. Maybe I can steal a few minutes to figure out how something on my new camera works?

Yarn Along: Rip It!

{Yarning Along with Ginny}

Laundry so didn't make it to completion Monday- groceries seemed so much more important that day. Yesterday ended up being the true "catch up" day. Unpacking all the way, laundry, putting everything away and getting back to a more normal routine with the kids was the name of the game.


I ended up taking the purple socks with me to finish up and the grey and coral Regia for another pair of socks. Sadly, I discovered a pretty serious dropped stitch situation just before the heel flap on the second purple sock. I spent a good hour trying to recover it without ripping back, even past the point where it became obvious that I should give up and rip back.

So I finally did.

It took most of the trip to get back to where I was before the great rip-back of 2013... about an inch from starting toe decreases. I'm happy to say that the toe decreases are now begun and I just need an hour or so to finish them and graft the toe.


I did start the first of the Regia socks as well in a moment of needing to not look at the purple sock of fail. It has a few successful inches on it, but nothing fun to show.


I also took along Game of Thrones by George R.R. Martin on the kindle to read. It's been long on Brian's giant list of science fiction and fantasy I should read so when I saw it available through our library on the kindle I grabbed it. I'm through the first few chapters so far and enjoying it. It's a different pace than the books I've read lately so it took me a bit to get into it, but it is really good so far.

Runaway

I had planned a full posting schedule for last week, but I think I told you we might run off, and we did.

We're almost back to normal today, but not quite. Maybe more in this space tomorrow depending on how my laundry pile looks?

Project Bags

I mentioned participating in Kids Clothes Week back in late April. The challenge was to spend 1 hour a day making kids clothes.  I did it, but didn't produce a ton as I'm still learning about this whole "sewing clothing" thing.


I hadn't touched my sewing machine in a long while, and to be honest was a little afraid I might have forgotten how. I decided to start out by making some little lined zipper pouches for much needed knitting project bags and- surprise! 

I still know how to sew! 

I love having zippered project bags because it essentially guarantees that I won't pull out my project only to discover that I dropped a DPN somewhere along the way. It keeps everything together, I can usually throw an extra skein or two in the bag, stitch markers, etc. and I don't have to worry about dropping anything or having it super organized. I can throw a zippered project bag in my purse or the diaper bag without worrying about losing anything or damaging the project. This little white one is the perfect size for socks-on-the-go. Yarn, 5 DPNs, and a darning needle are all I need to be completely prepared for every sock knitting need.


I made a larger bag also for kid projects. Sweaters for the boys are taking 3-5 skeins now, and Ellie's are getting to be about the same. Couple that with the projects themselves being a little bulkier with all the growing these children do and I need more space in my project bags.


I intend to make 4 or 5 more- probably 3 more "kid project" sized bags (since that will probably also be a good size for lace projects), and I'm going to experiment with 1 or 2 larger sized bags for the adult sized sweater projects. The "me" sweaters may just stay in my work basket if the bags end up too bulky, but I'm sure I'll find a use for giant fabric zipper bags.


I've made a few of these little bags before and don't really use a pattern, but if you would like a tutorial, this is a great one with a ton of pictures and step by step process.